and the captain of Company "I" was fifty-nine years, both prominent men at home who had organized their companies through their influence and offer to take the field with their men. What they knew about military tactics was learned under the old militia school which was of no value in our war. One of them remained with his company until near the close of the war. He was well liked by his men as he took good care of them, but was of little value in the field. The other died in a hospital in Nashville July 17, 1864.

His 2nd Lieutenant, Wm. P. Gardner, was the son of Judge Gardner of Toledo. Although but nineteen years old, he seemed born for the army. He was a student of military matters, and had the appearance and culture of a West Point man. He became an efficient officer of the company, although his manner made him unpopular with the men, until their first engagement, when his coolness under fire and his success in handling the company changed their estimate. Before he entered the service he had been at work on an improvement in breech-loading artillery about which he had occasionally talked with me. In January, 1865, when we all felt the war would soon. be over, he decided to resign and complete the model of his gun and take it for inspection to the War Department at Washington. He did resign, completed his plan and submitted his gun to the War Department which turned it down. But not discouraged, he went to London and submitted it to the British Admiralty. The gun was accepted and he was em

ployed to superintend its construction. When General Gordon, known as "Chinese" Gordon, was sent to India to quell the insurrection they armed him with the Gardner gun. With it he drove the hosts of the enemy before him, took the city of Khartoom and held it until the ammunition and supplies were exhausted and the city fell. General Gordon was murdered two days before the arrival of re-inforcements. But the value of the Gardner gun was established and Mr. Gardner was given a high salary to remain in the employ of the government, where, after a very successful career, he died a few years ago.

CHAPTER 12.

Ordered to the Field.

On February 6th, 1864, I received an order from General Grant at Louisville, directing me to bring my command with full equipment by water to Nashville. This included nine covered wagons with six mules each, all of which were supplied by the quartermaster's department; and in proper order our gay fleet of seven river steamers started from the wharf at Cincinnati, a large crowd cheering as the band on the first boat struck up "The Star Spangled Banner," while the Stars and Stripes were unfurled on the flag staff. The steamers wheeled into column behind the flag ship, and as I looked upon this naval display I felt myself inflating with the rank of a commodore!

This inspiring start however got a back-set when, on reaching Louisville a few hours later, I was handed a dispatch from General Grant, directing me to disembark my command, and march through Kentucky to Nashville by a route given. I learned subsequently that depredations were being committed in. Kentucky under the belief that the supply of troops from the North had been exhausted. We remained in Louisville some days, awaiting supplies, and then started on the march for Nashville.

We camped the first night near Bardstown, Kentucky. The next morning, I was accosted by a citizen, who informed me that three of my men had broken into and robbed his house. He gave me the letter on their caps, and they were soon found, the stolen property recovered and returned to him. Two of the culprits were young boys from a country village; the other, the leader in the escapade was older, a hard looking man from about the wharves in Cincinnati, who had been recruited for the 1st Battalion, but not yet been mustered into service. That evening I directed their captain to bring them to my quarters, and a "Drum Head Court Martial" was held. A trunk had been broken open with the butt end of a carbine, and pillaged. Among the plunder was a razor. After we had learned the facts, I called for the stolen razor, and had the hair on one side of the head of each man cut and shaved from the line of the nose to the back of the neck. I told the leader that, as we were soldiers not burglars, he could be of no value to the regiment except to show the result of misconduct. I then took his arms and accoutrements, gave him a day's rations, and placed him in front of the regiment standing in line. Between two files of soldiers we marched him down the line in front of the drum and fife playing the "Rogues' March," and sent him away. This was radical treatment but I thought by the looks of the man that his influence in battle would be as injurious as in camp. In the case of the two boys the lesson was effective,

for they both became good soldiers and conducted themselves well thereafter. One of them is now a good, industrious and respected citizen of Columbus, Ohio, and a warm friend of mine.

On February 15th, I reported at General Grant's headquarters in Nashville, and was assigned a place for a camp by Colonel Potter, General Grant's adjutant general, about two miles out of the city on the "Granny White Pike", here the command passed a very satisfactory inspection.

While here two of my officers, Captain Gatch and Lieutenant Peter F. Swing asked permission to call on General Grant, as their company, "L", was from Clermont County where Grant was born, and these officers were distantly related to him.

Some time afterward, in telling about their call, Captain Gatch said that General Grant talked with interest of the old home and old friends, and said he was glad they felt it their duty to enter the service,"For the war is far from settled and most of the young men of the North will be needed." He then asked, "Who is your colonel? What is his military experience, and what sort of a man is he?" The young officers had learned one lesson on military courtesy which was to speak well of their commanding officer! They told him of my first year as an infantry captain, and my second as a major of cavalry, and of the discipline maintained in the regiment, mentioning that neither drinking nor gambling was permitted. "Does he drink himself?" the general